Positioning Assembly

ABSTRACT

A positioning assembly is mounted to a partitioning screen including a roller and a screen member. The positioning assembly includes a side strip mounted to a free end of the screen member, two tubular pulling rods, a resilient member, and two retaining rods. Each pulling rod has an inserted segment extending telescopically into the side strip and an extending segment exposed from the respective pulling rod, and formed with a force-bearing portion having a structural strength weaker than a remaining portion of a corresponding pulling rod so as to serve as a point of deformation or fracture when the corresponding pulling rod experiences impact. The resilient member is disposed in the side strip and has opposite ends connected respectively to the pulling rods. Each retaining rod has a connecting portion connected to a respective extending segment, and a securing portion extending away from the side strip for retaining the screen member at an unwound state.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a positioning assembly, more particularly to a positioning assembly capable of positioning a partitioning screen at an unwound state.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, European Patent Publication No. 2,174,839 A1 discloses a conventional positioning assembly 1 for a partitioning screen that is positioned in a transport vehicle for separating a passenger compartment from a cargo compartment. The partitioning screen includes a roller 101 extending in an axial direction (X) and a screen 10 operable between a wound state, where a free end 100 thereof is adjacent to the roller 101, and an unwound state, where the free end 100 thereof is away from the roller 101. The conventional positioning assembly 1 comprises a hollow side strip 11, first and second tubes 12, 13, a rigid rod 14, a bushing 15, a resilient member 16, and first and second rods 17, 18.

The hollow side strip 11 extends in the axial direction (X) and defines amounting space 111 therein. The first and second tubes 12, 13 are extended respectively into the mounting space 111 through opposite open ends of the side strip 11. The rigid rod 14 is disposed in the side strip 11 and has an end connected to the first tube 12 and an opposite end extending into the second tube 13. The bushing 15 is disposed in the second tube 13 and sleeved on the rigid rod 14, and is movable relative to the second tube 13 and the rigid rod 14 in the axial direction (X). The resilient member 16 is sleeved on the rigid rod 14 and has opposite ends abutting respectively against the bushing 15 and the first tube 12. The first rod 17 is connected fixedly to the first tube 12. The second rod 18 extends into the second tube 13 and engages the bushing 15.

To partition the passenger compartment from the cargo compartment in the transport vehicle, the screen 10 is first moved from the wound state to the unwound state. Subsequently, the second tube 18 is pushed to further retract into the side strip 11 so as to drive the bushing 15 to compress the resilient member 16. After the second rod 18 is released, the first and second rods 17, 18 can abut tightly and respectively against desired positioning positions in the transport vehicle, such that the free end 100 of the screen 10 is retained at the unwound state.

However, the configuration of the positioning assembly 1 is relatively complicated, which results in a troublesome manufacturing process and a time-consuming assembling procedure. Furthermore, when the positioning assembly 1 is subjected to an impact, components inside the side strip 11 may distort or even fracture to thereby prohibit the movement of the bushing 15 and the second tube 13 in the axial direction (X) relative to the side strip 11, so that the screen 10 is stuck at the unwound state, and the conventional positioning assembly 1 is relatively difficult to be detached from the transport vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a positioning assembly capable of alleviating the above drawbacks of the prior art.

The positioning assembly of the present invention is adapted to be mounted to a partitioning screen. The partitioning screen includes a roller extending in an axial direction, and a screen member having a connecting end that is connected to the roller and a free end that is opposite to the connecting end, and movable between a wound state, where the free end thereof is close to the roller, and an unwound state, where the free end thereof is away from the roller. Accordingly, the positioning assembly comprises a side strip, two tubular pulling rods, a resilient member, and two retaining rods. The side strip is adapted to be mounted to the free end of the screen member, extends in the axial direction, defines a mounting space therein, and has opposite open ends in spatial communication with the mounting space. Each of the tubular pulling rods has an inserted segment extending telescopically into the mounting space through a respective one of the opposite open ends of the side strip, and an extending segment exposed from the respective one of the open ends of the side strip, and formed with a force-bearing portion that has a structural strength weaker than a remaining portion of a corresponding one of the pulling rods so as to serve as a point of deformation or fracture when the corresponding one of the pulling rods experiences impact. The resilient member is disposed in the mounting space and has opposite ends connected respectively to the inserted segments of the pulling rods such that the pulling rods are resiliently slidable relative to the side strip in the axial direction. Each of the retaining rods has a connecting portion connected fixedly to an end of the extending segment of a respective one of the pulling rods that is distal from the resilient member in the axial direction, and a securing portion extending away from the side strip and adapted to be secured for retaining the free end of the screen member at the unwound state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic partly sectional view of a conventional positioning assembly disclosed in European Patent Publication No. 2,174,839 A1;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary partly exploded perspective view of the conventional positioning assembly disclosed in European Patent Publication No. 2,174,839 A1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic partly sectional view of a first preferred embodiment of a positioning assembly according to the present invention that is mounted to a partitioning screen;

FIG. 4 is a partly exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a partly exploded perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the positioning assembly according to the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the second preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the invention is described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying embodiments, it should be noted herein that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, a first preferred embodiment of a positioning assembly according to the present invention is adapted to be mounted to a partitioning screen. The partitioning screen 2 may also be replaced by a safety net or a cargo cover, which is to be positioned in a transport vehicle (not shown) for separating two spaces in the vehicle, such as a passenger compartment and a cargo compartment. The partitioning screen 2 includes a roller 21 extending in an axial direction (X), and a screen member 22 having a connecting end 220 that is connected to the roller 21 and a free end 221 that is opposite to the connecting end 220. The screen member 22 is movable between a wound state, where the free end 221 thereof is close to the roller 21, and an unwound state, where the free end 221 thereof is away from the roller 21. Since the feature of this invention does not reside in the roller 21 and the screen member 22, further details of the same are omitted herein for the sake of brevity.

The positioning assembly of this invention comprises a side strip 3, two tubular pulling rods 4, a resilient member 5, and two retaining rods 6.

The side strip 3 is adapted to be mounted to the free end 221 of the screen member 22, extends in the axial direction (X), and defines a mounting space 32 therein. The side strip 3 has opposite open ends 31 in spatial communication with the mounting space 32, and is formed with two slots 33 spaced apart from each other in the axial direction (X) and in spatial communication with the mounting space 32. Each of the slots 33 extends in the axial direction (X).

Each of the tubular pulling rods 4 has an inserted segment 41 extending telescopically into the mounting space 32 through a respective one of the opposite open ends 31 of the side strip 3, and an extending segment 42 exposed from the respective one of the open ends 31 of the side strip 3, and formed with two force-bearing portions 46, each of which has a structural strength weaker than a remaining portion of a corresponding one of the pulling rods 4. In this embodiment, the force-bearing portion 46 of each of the pulling rods 4 is formed with a pair of V-shaped notches 461 that are diametrically opposite to each other such that, as a consequence, the force-bearing portion 46 has a cross-section smaller than the remaining portion of a corresponding one of the pulling rods 4. The configuration of the force-bearing portions 46 may be U-shaped, and the number of the force-bearing portions 46 may vary in other embodiments of this invention.

The inserted segment 41 of each of the pulling rods 4 has an engaging end portion 43 that is opposite to the extending segment 42 of a corresponding one of the pulling rods 4 in the axial direction (X). The engaging end portion 43 of one of the pulling rods 4 is inserted fittingly into the engaging end portion 43 of the other one of the pulling rods 4, i.e., the engaging end portion 43 of the one of the pulling rods 4 has an outer diameter slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the engaging end portion 43 of the other one of the pulling rods 4. Nevertheless, the engaging end portions 43 may be omitted in other embodiments of this invention. Each of the pulling rods 4 includes a connecting member 45 mounted fixedly in the inserted segment 41 and disposed opposite to the extending segment 42 in the axial direction (X).

The resilient member 5 is an extension spring in this embodiment, is disposed in the mounting space 32, and has opposite ends 51 connected respectively to the connecting members 45 of the pulling rods 4 such that the pulling rods 4 are resiliently slidable relative to the side strip 3 in the axial direction (X). Each of the pulling rods 4 further includes a slide bar 44 mounted to the inserted segment 41 thereof and extending slidably through a respective one of the slots 33 of the side strip 3. To assemble the positioning assembly, after each of the inserted segments 41 is inserted into the mounting space 32, each of the slide bars 44 is extended through the corresponding one of the slots 33 to be mounted to the inserted segment 41, such that each pulling rod 4 is slidable relative to the side strip 3 in the axial direction (X).

Each of the retaining rods 6 has a connecting portion 61 extending into the extending segment 42 and connected fixedly to an end 421 of the extending segment 42 of a respective one of the pulling rods 4 that is distal from the resilient member 5 in the axial direction (X), and a securing portion 62 connected to the connecting portion 61, extending away from the side strip 3, and adapted for retaining the free end 221 of the screen member 22 at the unwound state.

Preferably, the positioning assembly of this invention further comprises two end plugs 7 and two pins 422. Each end plug 7 is press-fitted between the connecting portion 61 of a respective one of the retaining rods 6 and the extending segment 42 of a corresponding one of the pulling rods 4. Each pin 422 extends through the extending segment 42 of a respective one of the pulling rods 4 and the connecting portion 61 of the corresponding retaining rod 6 to secure the respective pulling rod 4 to the corresponding retaining rod 6. An indentation 423 is punched in the extending segment 42 of each of the pulling rods 4 at a position adjacent to the end 421 thereof for further enhancing the engagement strength between the pulling rods 4 and the corresponding retaining rods 6. It should be noted that, the end plugs 7 may be omitted and the connecting portion 61 of each of the retaining rods 6 may be press-fitted directly in, engage threadedly, be riveted to, or be welded to the extending segment 42 of the respective one of the pulling rods 4 in other embodiments of this invention.

To partition the passenger compartment from the cargo compartment in the transport vehicle, the screen member 22 of the partitioning screen 2 is operated to move from the wound state to the unwound state, where the free end 221 of the screen member 22 is away from the roller 21. The pulling rods 4 are then pulled to slide away from the side strip 3 to result in extension of the resilient member 5, and the securing portions 62 of the retaining rods 6 are positioned at positioning positions of the transport vehicle, such that the screen member 22 is retained at the unwound state. To remove the retaining rods 6 together with the free end 221 of the screen member 22 from the transport vehicle, the securing portions 62 of the retaining rods 6 are detached from the positioning portions of the transport vehicle and the resilient member 5 is released, such that the pulling rods 4 are biased to slide reversely back to their original positions by a restoring force of the resilient member 5.

When the pulling rods 4 experience impact, the force-bearing portions 46 of the pulling rods 4 serve as points of deformation or fracture, so that deformation or fracture of the remaining portions of the pulling rods 4, the side strip 3 and the retaining rods 6 can be avoided. Therefore, even though the force-bearing portions 46 of the pulling rods 4 are deformed or fractured during use, the pulling rods 4 remain resiliently slidable relative to the side strip 3 in the axial direction (X) and can be detached from the transport vehicle.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a second preferred embodiment of the positioning assembly according to the present invention has a structure similar to that of the first embodiment. The main difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment resides in that the resilient member 5 is a compression spring. In this embodiment, the opposite ends 51 of the resilient member 5 abut against the connecting members 45 of the pulling rods 4, respectively. When it is desired to partition the passenger compartment from the cargo compartment, the pulling rods 4 are pressed to move toward each other before the securing portions 62 of the retaining rods 6 are positioned on positioning positions of the transport vehicle. The second preferred embodiment has the same advantages as those of the first preferred embodiment.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A positioning assembly adapted to be mounted to a partitioning screen, the partitioning screen including a roller extending in an axial direction, and a screen member having a connecting end that is connected to the roller and a free end that is opposite to the connecting end, and movable between a wound state, where the free end thereof is close to the roller, and an unwound state, where the free end thereof is away from the roller, said positioning assembly comprising: a side strip that is adapted to be mounted to the free end of the screen member, that extends in the axial direction, that defines a mounting space therein, and that has opposite open ends in spatial communication with said mounting space; two tubular pulling rods, each of which has an inserted segment extending telescopically into said mounting space through a respective one of said opposite open ends of said side strip, and an extending segment exposed from the respective one of said open ends of said side strip, and formed with a force-bearing portion that has a structural strength weaker than a remaining portion of a corresponding one of said pulling rods so as to serve as a point of deformation or fracture when the corresponding one of said pulling rods experiences impact; a resilient member that is disposed in said mounting space and that has opposite ends connected respectively to said inserted segments of said pulling rods such that said pulling rods are resiliently slidable relative to said side strip along the axial direction; and two retaining rods, each of which has a connecting portion connected fixedly to an end of said extending segment of a respective one of said pulling rods that is distal from said resilient member in the axial direction, and a securing portion extending away from said side strip and adapted to be secured for retaining the free end of the screen member at the unwound state.
 2. The positioning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said force-bearing portion of each of said pulling rods is formed with at least one notch and has a cross-section smaller than the remaining portion of a corresponding one of said pulling rods.
 3. The positioning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said side strip is formed with two slots spaced apart from each other in the axial direction and in spatial communication with said mounting space, each of said pulling rods including a slide bar mounted to said inserted segment thereof and extending slidably through a respective one of said slots.
 4. The positioning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said resilient member is an extension spring.
 5. The positioning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said resilient member is a compression spring.
 6. The positioning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting portion of each of said retaining rods extends into said extending segment of the respective one of said pulling rods, said positioning assembly further comprising two end plugs each being press-fitted between said connecting portion of a respective one of said retaining rods and said extending segment of a corresponding one of said pulling rods. 